The effectiveness of Kamasan puppet painting-based learning in developing character and social-cognitive skills of elementary students

This research was based on the problem of the lack of learning media as a learning resource in strengthening the character and social cognitive skills in elementary school students. Kamasan puppet paintings as one of the local wisdoms in Bali Province, especially in Klungkung Regency, has not been widely used as one of the media in learning related to strengthening the profile of Pancasila students who are being intensively pursued related to the implementation of the independent curriculum. This study aims to analyze the effect of Balinese local wisdom of kamasan puppet paintings in building character and social cognitive skills in elementary schools. A quasi-experimental research design was employed, involving a sample of students divided into experimental and control groups. Data were collected using character and social cognitive skills questionnaire. The data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. The findings revealed that the integration of Kamasan puppet painting-based learning media significantly enhanced students’ character values and social-cognitive skills as components of the Pancasila Student Profile. Statistical analysis using MANOVA indicated a significant multivariate effect of the intervention, with univariate tests confirming its impact on both variables. Students in the experimental group demonstrated higher levels of moral understanding and collaborative behavior compared to those in the control group. These results highlight the effectiveness of culturally contextualized learning media in supporting holistic character education in elementary schools.